18TH WEDNESDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME (TRANSFIGURATION)— YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 2 Peter 1:16-19, Matthew 17:1-9
My dear friends in Christ,
Today we remember a very special moment in Jesus’ life, one we call the Transfiguration. It’s a “mountain-top” moment, and we are all invited to be there with him.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus took three of his closest friends—Peter, James, and John—up a mountain to pray. As he prayed, something amazing happened. Jesus’ appearance changed. His face shone, and his clothes became a brilliant, shining white.
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Suddenly, two great figures from the past appeared with him: Moses and Elijah. Moses was the man who gave God’s law to his people, and Elijah was one of the greatest prophets. Their presence showed that Jesus was the one everyone had been waiting for—the one who would fulfill all the old laws and promises.
Peter was so excited he didn’t know what to do. He said, “Lord, it’s good that we are here! Let’s build three tents so we can stay!” But then a cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
This is the most important part of the story. The voice told them not to stay on the mountain or build tents. It told them to listen to Jesus.
This event was a gift from God. Just before this, Jesus had told his friends that he would have to suffer and die. This news likely scared them. So, God gave them a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, a sneak peek at what he would look like after his resurrection. It was a message that the suffering was not the end. The cross would lead to a great victory.
So, what does this mean for us today?
First, it teaches us about prayer. When we pray, we are climbing our own mountain with Jesus. It’s in these quiet moments that we can feel God’s presence and be changed by his love.
Second, the Transfiguration reminds us that we are also called to shine. The light of Christ is meant to be in our hearts and to shine out through our actions. When we love others, help those in need, and follow Jesus’ teachings, we are letting his light shine through us.
Finally, this story gives us hope. We all face difficult times, our own “valleys” of sadness or fear. The Transfiguration is a promise that even in these dark times, God’s light is still there. We can trust that no matter what we go through, God’s love and glory will always win.
So let’s leave this spiritual mountain-top experience not wanting to build tents, but with a renewed spirit, ready to go back into the world. Let us remember the Father’s command: “Listen to him!” and let the light of Jesus guide us every day.
Have a blessed feast everyone!
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